The explosion shattered the night's calm, sending shockwaves through the estate. The ground trembled beneath Vanthelis's feet, and distant flashes of fire painted the sky. His heart raced, and panic set in as he thought of one thing—his mother. He had to get to her.
"I'll get Mother," Vanthelis whispered under his breath, determination fueling his every step as he raced through the halls. The corridors of the Blackthorn estate felt like endless stretches of marble and shadows, each footfall reverberating through the silence.
He rounded the corner, and there she was.
His mother.
Though she was not the mother from his past life, there was something about her—her presence, her elegance, the way she moved—that made Vanthelis feel as though she was the same. She was his mother, and he had to protect her. He had to keep her safe.
"Mother, we need to go, now. We need to hide somewhere safe," he said urgently, his hand reaching for hers. His breath was shallow, and his pulse thundered in his ears as he grasped her hand and led her toward his chamber.
"Vanthelis, I—" she started, but the words died on her lips when she saw the desperation in his eyes. She knew he was only thinking of her well-being. She nodded, following him without question.
He pulled open the door to his room, quickly going to the trapdoor hidden beneath a thick rug. The door led to his private library—a place of safety and refuge. Beneath it was a secret bunker, a place where he had always kept his most treasured books. This was where he felt the most secure, surrounded by the knowledge he had spent years devouring.
"Down here," he said, ushering his mother into the hidden space. She hesitated for only a moment, then followed him into the cool, dimly lit bunker. The flickering light from candles illuminated the rows of dusty tomes and scrolls that filled the small room.
Vanthelis felt an odd sense of calm here. In the chaos of the world above, this room was his anchor. It was where he had studied, where he had learned the histories and legends of Sera. It was also where he had long dreamed of becoming a paladin, inspired by stories of heroes who could heal and even revive those who had fallen. A part of him, despite knowing it was futile, had always hoped he could do the same—to bring back the people he loved, if he ever found a way back to Earth.
He paused at the edge of the room, breathing in the scent of old parchment. "I'll stay here," he muttered more to himself than to anyone else. This place was secure, but his mind raced, knowing he had no control over the situation outside. He just wanted to keep her safe.
His mother looked at him then, her gaze filled with both understanding and concern. "I'll be fine, my beloved," she said softly, her voice steady and confident. "You know I'm capable. Don't worry."
Vanthelis's heart clenched as she reached out to him, her hand cupping his cheek. "You've always known I would protect you, no matter what," she continued, her words grounding him. "You've always known that I would never leave you behind."
The tears that had threatened to spill were held back as he shook his head, his grip tightening on her hand. "Please, stay here with me. You're all I have left."
But his mother was already turning toward the stairs that led back to the upper floors. She smiled at him, a look of warmth and strength in her eyes. "I'll be back soon, Vanthelis," she said, and with one final glance, she vanished into the shadows.
"Mother, please—" he called after her, but the words seemed to fall uselessly into the air. He could only watch as she walked away, her figure growing smaller as she disappeared into the darkness.
The door closed behind her softly, and Vanthelis was left standing alone in the cold, dim bunker. A part of him wanted to rush after her, to make sure she was safe, but he knew better. His mother was no ordinary woman. She was powerful, more than capable of taking care of herself. And yet, the fear of losing her, of seeing her walk away without being able to stop her, gnawed at him.
For a long moment, he stood there, frozen in place, his thoughts a whirlwind of worry and doubt. But deep down, he knew there was nothing more he could do now except wait. Wait for her to return. Wait for everything to settle.
And hope that when she did come back, she would be safe.